COPD Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claim for pulmonary fibrosis has been granted. From November 16, 2010 through February 13, 2012, the Veteran was awarded a 20% rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cause of death, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), was caused by asbestos exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed respiratory disorder is not causally or etiologically related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and reasoning in its April 2015 decision, requiring a new VA examination for all diagnosed respiratory conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral eye disorder, respiratory disorder (including asthma, emphysema and COPD), skin disorder of the hands, and chronic dizziness and lack of balance. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or exposure to chemicals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and DIC benefits, finding that his COPD was not caused by military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining psychiatric treatment records and providing a medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory disorder did not manifest in service and is not etiologically related to any in-service event or injury, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic respiratory disorders, including asthma, COPD and emphysema, are related to her military service exposure to smoke and fumes from burning oil pits during her deployment in Southwest Asia. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lung disability is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, and he has a current diagnosis of heart disease. The Board finds that the Veteran's heart disease is associated with herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and emphysema on a substitution basis, finding that the Veteran's exposure to toxic fumes in service was causally related to his later diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current pulmonary disability, including COPD and asthma, is not related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection for a pulmonary disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA and COPD are not related to his military service, including any exposure to asbestos. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's breathing disorder, including COPD, pulmonary hypertension, and sleep apnea, was not shown to be related to service or exposure to herbicides. The Board found that the most likely cause of his respiratory conditions is tobacco use.

The Veteran's service-connected asbestosis has been attributed to his respiratory-related symptoms, including COPD and bronchitis. The Board is granting a 100% rating for asbestosis based on the severity of his respiratory condition.

The Veteran's asthma with COPD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and missing records. The Veteran is presumed exposed to herbicide agents during service, including in Vietnam.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, CHF and COPD, were not service-connected.